Whether you’re new to off-roading or a seasoned pro, you’re probably excited to take your vehicle off the beaten path and explore new trails. But what started as an exciting weekend adventure can quickly turn into a nightmare if you get stuck and can’t make it back to civilization. While there are many recovery tools available to off-roaders, there’s one that stands above the rest—the winch.
What Is a Winch?
At a base level, a winch is a motor-driven device that winds a rope or cable around a cylindrical drum to pull heavy loads. There are many different styles and uses for winches, but in the world of off-roading they are used for vehicle recovery. Typically mounted to the front bumper of a vehicle, a winch is a vital tool that any serious off-roader has in their recovery arsenal to be prepared.
Do I Need a Winch?
If you’re a novice off-roader who is just getting started out with tame trails and fire roads, a winch can offer peace of mind and protection against unforeseen circumstances and extreme weather. As you begin venture down rougher and more challenging trails, getting stuck is no longer a matter of if but when. Whether it’s pulling yourself or someone else out of a tough spot like deep mud or up a challenging incline, a winch is essential for vehicle recovery.
What Winch Is Right for Me?
 While it might be tempting to go out and buy the winch with the highest pulling capacity, that isn’t always the best way to determine what’s best for you. Your first step should be to determine your vehicle’s GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). This can usually be found by opening the driver’s side door of your vehicle and looking at the door jamb sticker and looking for the number after GVWR. This is different than curb weight, which is the weight of a vehicle without any passengers or cargo, while the gross weight factors in passengers and cargo.
The rule of thumb for determining the minimum needed pulling capacity for your vehicle is to multiply the GVWR by one and a half. For example, a two-door 2024 Ford Bronco Big Bend has a GVWR of 5,540 pounds, so the math would look like this:
5,540 lbs x 1.5 = 8,310 lbs
In this case, our 10,000 pound winch would offer ample pulling power for recovery of this Bronco. While this is true for the vehicle in stock form, you should take into account how modifications of your vehicle impacts your gross weight, such as aftermarket bumpers, larger wheels and tires, or off-road lighting.
However, it’s a different story if we’re winch shopping for a four-door 2024 Ford F-150 Lariat, which has a gross weight of 7,100 lbs:
7,100 lbs x 1.5 = 10,650 lbs
In this case, you would need to step up to our 12,000 pound winch. To make sure you’re winching safely and effectively, it’s important to do your research beforehand and make sure you have the right tool for the job.
Beyond aftermarket modifications, it’s also important to consider other factors that can affect what pulling capacity you may need. There are many scenarios, such as being stuck in deep mud, recovering a broken vehicle, or certain pulling angles which can result in additional resistance and quickly add to the overall weight being pulled. In these cases, having a more powerful winch can ensure you’re prepared for more challenging recovery situations.
Ultimately, a winch is an important tool for any off-road enthusiast. By offering the means of self-recovery and superior capability in challenging conditions, winches provide peace of mind when you’re venturing into the wild. On the tamer side of vehicle recovery, a winch can save a weekend outing by getting you back on the trail without having to wait for rescue. If you’re off-roading in extremely remote areas with no other way of getting help, a winch could save your life.
Whatever your next off-roading adventure looks like, make sure you’re properly prepared to hit the trail with the equipment you need—and there’s no better way to be ready for recovery than by installing a Borne Off-Road Winch on your vehicle.
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